Combined impeller and drain valve for dishwashing machines



Aug, i950 c. HOLLEMTH COMBINED IMPELLER AND 1mm VALVE FOR DISH WASHINGMACHINES Filed Deo. 29, 1945 1|!! 91; 20' 3mm F16. I H11/m55 HUILE/:HTH

39M @WM rf ff/Zaw( www Patented Aug. 1, 1950 COMBINED IMPELLER AND DRAINVALVE FOR DISHWASHING MACHINES Charles Hollcrith, Jackson, Mich.,assignor to Lake State Products, Inc., Jackson, Mich., a corporation ofMichigan Application December 29, 1945, Serial No. 638,315

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to improvements in drain valves andimpeller assembly structure for dishwashers andsimilar equipment.'Reference may be had to the disclosure of co-pending application SerialNo. 638,273, filed December 25, 1945. as one of construction to whichthe present invention is particularly adapted.

An obeject of theinvention is to provide a drain valve which is."closedby the rotational forces acting upon the impeller for the washingliquid. f

Another object is to provide an improved drain valve and impellerassembly for dishwashers and the like, in which the impeller is in theform of a fly-ball governor type of construction with the rotationalforces developed therein holding the valve closed.

A further object is'to provide an improved. motor-driven impeller forthe washing liquid, having the blade elements thereof mounted in such amanner as to respond to centrifugal forces and having an operativeconnection with the drain valve to regulate` the movement thereof.

These objects and advantages and others residing in the generalarrangement and construction of parts will manifest themselves moreclearly from a consideration of the following specification and theattached claim.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, vertical cross-sectional view, showing theimpeller and valve structures in section in the motor in side elevation,and

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the impeller with the attachment screw and capshown removed.

Referring to the drawings, the vat lli has a central opening l2,-deilned by an outwardly turned flange I4. The sump it is shown in theform of a casting integral with the housing It of the motor 2li. Anoutlet for connection to a suitable drain pipe is indicated as 22. Asealing ring 24 of suitable non-metallic material is located between theflange i4 and the flange 26 of the sump I6. An adiustable band 28 istightly drawn to clamp the flanges I4 and28 together with a ring 24compressed between them. The conical surface 30 constitutes a seat forthe drain valve as will be hereinafter described.

The shaft 32 is driven directly by the motor 20 with a ball bearingbeing provided at 34 and a sleeve bearing at 36 in the support ll. Asheet metal drain valve 4t has a tubular'portion 4,2 which is guided foraxial and rotational movement on spaced bearing rings 44. A seal ofsuitable construction is shown at 4i for the shaft 32. A spring 48located between the top of the column 38 and the end ll of the tubularportion 42 supports the valve 40 in the position shown in full line inthe drawing.

The impeller 52 for circulating liquid in the vat l0 has the additionalfunction DI 0131511135 and closing the drain valve upon starting andstopping of the motor 20. This is accomplished by hinging the impellerblades 54 upon pins 56, supported on the bosses 5B of the collar 60,fixed against relative rotation on the reduced upper end 62 of the shaft32. Integral with each blade 54 is an arm 64 which is brought to bear`on a thrust and wear plate 65. This plate is supported on the end of thetubular portion 42 and it is provided with a central aperture to permitfree axial movement along the shaft 32. A cap screw 66 holds cover 6B inposition and the collar against the shoulder 68.

The manner in which the impeller 52 controls the valve 40 should now beobvious: When the motor 20 is started, the forces of rotation cause theblade 54 to move toward the dotted line position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.'This action results in the arms 64 forcing the plate 65 and the column42 downwardly to bring the valve 40 into sealing engagement with itsseat 30. The slight friction between the valve 40 and its seat 30 willovercome any tendency for the valve 40 to be rotated by the slightdriving action of either the plate 65 or the travel of the arm 64 aroundplate 65. As in the case of my co-pending application, Serial No.638,314, filed December 29, 1945, this tendency for the valve 40 torotate at least partially during opening and closing assures moreuniform wear and gives improved sealing action between the engagingsurfaces by wiping all foreign matter therefrom.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim to be new andpatentable and desire to cover by Letters Patent is:

A combination of a dishwasher or the like, having a vat with a centraldrain opening therein, a vertical shaft extending through said opening,an impeller mounted on the upper end of said shaft and driven thereby, adrain valve for controlling said opening and surrounding said shaft,pivoted impeller blades upon said impeller adapted to be moved from oneposition to another by centrifugal forces upon rotation of said shaft,and an operative connection between said pivoted blades and said drainvalve.

CHARLES HOLLERITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

